In a truly disgraceful incident that is spreading outrage across the country, a case is now underway in which a seven-month-old baby died in Basti district after experiencing extreme acts of medical malpractice. This event – which took place in an ambulance as the child was being delivered - has put lifeblood in doubt regarding emergency healthcare and who is to accept responsibility.
Prema Devi, who was the victim, was seven months pregnant when she suddenly developed severe labor pains. She was then driven out in an ambulance to a community health centre in Kudraha. Yet only minutes into her hospital visit, she escalated her condition, her pain drastically intensified.
Reportedly, rather than wait to get to the medical facility or ask qualified doctors for help, an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker riding in the ambulance decided to deliver herself. She supposedly gave a pain-relief injection and tried to elicit a normal delivery in untrained and unsafe circumstances. It followed a tragic and gruesome fate.
The baby’s body was reported to have been delivered, but its head stayed entrapped in its mother’s womb. In a desperate and unprofessional attempt to finish the delivery, the staff allegedly forcefully pulled the baby, causing the baby's body and head to be separated. The baby died instantly. Fearing consequences later the ambulance and health worker reportedly tried covering it up.
They said they told the family that the woman was in critical condition and transferred her to a private hospital without stating the details. After that, she was referred to the district medical college for further treatment. A doctor performed an ultrasound exam at the district hospital, and was astonished to learn that the infant’s severed head remained in the mother’s womb.
With immediate relief, the medical team made an emergency operation to remove body parts and avoid any complications yet ahead. Prema Devi fortunately lived the whole ordeal and is being treated. Doctors say her condition remains stable and she still needs very close observation. There is a police case now being filed against the ASHA worker and those responsible for ambulance services.
Authorities have started an investigation and early data points to gross negligence and improper medical judgment. Though the incident was serious, there is now anger within the public about the perception of the absence of harsh administrative action towards those responsible. Accountability and more strict supervision of emergency medical services particularly in rural areas have long been demanded by local residents and activists.
This tragic incident serves as evidence for the critical inadequacies of emergency medical response system and the need to identify and address the dangers of unqualified personnel conducting high demand work. It also is an illustration of the desperate requirement for improved training, monitoring, compliance with medical protocols, and the importance of preventing this type of devastating incident and tragedy from recurrence. The investigation is ongoing and the victim and her family should be tried, and system failure have been put into play to bring them justice.
